Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila

FIRST DIVISION

G.R. Nos. 76416 and 94312 July 5, 1999

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,

vs.
RUSTOM BERMAS y BETITO and GALMA ARCILLA, accused-appellants.

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:

On April 20, 1985 at around 8:30 in the evening, Catalino Bellen, Arturo Abion, Teodoro Cas,
Antonio Abion, Renato Abion, Jesus Lotera and Expedito Bonaobra were aboard their fishing boat
Sagrada Familia tending to their fishing nets when bursts of gunfire from a high-powered automatic
rifle shattered the air killing Catalino Bellen and Teodoro Cas while mortally wounding Arturo Abion.
Renato Abion, Jesus Lotera and Expedito Bonaobra sustained serious gunshot wounds which too
would have caused the deaths of Lotera and Bonaobra had it not been for the intervention of timely
medical assistance.

For the crime, accused Rustom Bermas y Betito and one John Doe were indicted for Multiple Murder
with Multiple Frustrated Murder in an
Information   alleging —
1

That on or about the 20th day of April 1985 at 8:30 o'clock in the evening, more or
less, at the sea of Barangay Namanday, Municipality of Bacacay, Province of Albay,
Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named
accused, with evident premeditation, conspiring, confederating and helping one
another, with treachery, taking advantage of nighttime, employing means to afford
impunity, with the use of high powered firearms and with intent to kill, did then and
there willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, suddenly and unexpectedly attack, fire and
shoot with automatic firearms CATALINO BELLEN, ARTURO ABION, TEODORO
CAS, ANTONIO ABION, RENATO ABION, JESUS LUTERA and EXPEDITO
BONAOBRA while all the latter were on board their fishing boat, "Sagrada Familia",
and tending their fishing net, thereby causing the instantaneous death of CATALINO
BELLEN, ARTURO ABION, and TEODORO CAS, and serious wounds to ANTONIO
ABION, RENATO ABION, JESUS LOTERA and EXPEDITO BONAOBRA, which
injuries could have caused the subsequent death of the aforenamed four victims
thereby accused performing all the direct acts of execution which could have
produced the crime of consummated murder insofar as the latter named persons are
concerned, but, nevertheless, did not produce it by reasons of timely and able
medical assistance rendered to them. 1âwphi1.nêt

CONTRARY TO LAW.

Upon arraignment, accused Rustom Bermas, assisted by counsel de parte, entered a plea of "Not
guilty" to the crime charged.   During the pre-trial scheduled on June 5, 1985, the prosecution and
2

the defense stipulated —

1. That the defense admits the identity of the accused;

2. That the defense admits the death of Catalino Bellen, Arturo Abion and Teodoro
Cas at Namanday, Bacacay, Albay; and that the cause of their deaths are gunshot
wounds (only for the fact of death);

3. That the other names of the victims appearing in the information were also present
during the incident who also sustained injuries as a result thereof;
 4. That the accused has a brother by the name of Sgt. Bonifacio Bermas;

The prosecution admitted: 1.) That the affidavits which are all contained in the
records will be the basis of the testimonies, except for some details;

2. That the middle name of Jose Abion and the other Abions in the information is
Barrameda;

3. That it was a certain P.C. Constable enlisted personnel Arcilla who had an
altercation with Santiago Abion, Jr. which was in October 10;

4. That the accused is a Barangay Councilman of Barangay Liwan, Rapu-rapu,

Province of Albay; and finally;

5. The prosecution admits that the accused is an employee of the Asian for
Generation Resources.  3

During the course of the proceedings, the Assistant Provincial Fiscal moved to amend the
Information claiming that the John Doe described therein strongly shows that said person was CIC
Galma Arcilla of the 255th PC Company stationed at Cale, Tiwi, Albay.   The motion was granted by
4

the trial court   which, however, stressed that it would be without jurisdiction to try Arcilla unless the
5

quondam Minister of National Defense or the President of the Philippines waives jurisdiction to have
the accused tried by a Military Tribunal and that they agree to let the civil courts try him.   A copy of
6

the order together with the records was sent to the Judge Advocate General's Office (JAGO) for
appropriate action.  7

Trial, meanwhile, proceeded with regard to accused Bermas. On September 25, 1986   the court a
8

quo rendered judgment, the dispositive portion of which reads:

WHEREFORE, and finding the accused RUSTOM BERMAS of Barangay Liguan,

Rapu-Rapu, Albay GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of MURDER
WITH MULTIPLE FRUSTRATED MURDER and ATTEMPTED MURDER, as
charged and as found during the trial, after a painstaking scrutiny of all the evidences
presented, and considering all the attendant circumstances, this court hereby
sentences said accused to suffer the penalty of RECLUSION PERPETUA, with all
the accessories of the law.

Said accused is further ordered to pay jointly and severally with whoever is found
guilty as his co-principal in the commission of the crime, the following:

To the heirs of the late CATALINO BELLEN, namely Lydia Bellen, widow, and
children Mary Rose, Rey, Zenaida and Queenie:

1. The sum of THIRTY THOUSAND (P30,000.00) PESOS for the

death of Catalino Bellen;

2. The sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN

HUNDRED FIFTY (P182,750.00) PESOS consisting of the future
earnings which the heirs mentioned were deprived of had the victim
lived up to the age of sixty (60) years;

3. The sum of SEVEN THOUSAND (P7,000.00) PESOS for funeral

wake and burial expenses;

4. The sum of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND (P25,000.00) PESOS for

and as moral damages.

To the heirs of the late TEODORO CAS, namely: Antonia Cas, widow and children: Maria Veronica,
Weldy and Honey Bee:

1. The sum of THIRTY THOUSAND (P30,000.00) PESOS for and as

indemnity for the death of the victim;
 2. The sum of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY NINE THOUSAND EIGHT
HUNDRED THIRTY SIX PESOS AND SEVENTY FIVE CENTAVOS
(P139,836.75) consisting of the future earnings which the heirs
mentioned were deprived of had the victim lived up to the age of sixty
(60) years;

3. The sum of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND (P25,000.00) PESOS for

and as moral damages;

4. The sum of SIXTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED

(P16,700.00) for and as funeral wake and burial expenses;

To the heirs of the late ARTURO ABION, namely Arsenia Abion, widow and the children: Renato,
Armando, Antonio, Nestor and Rebecca:

1. The sum of THIRTY THOUSAND (P30,000.00) PESOS for and as

civil indemnity for the death of Arturo Abion;

2. The sum of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND (P25,000.00) PESOS for

and as moral damages;

3. The sum of NINETY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY

(P91,250.00) PESOS consisting of the future earnings which the
heirs mentioned were deprived of had the victim lived up to the age of
sixty (60) years;

4. The sum of NINE THOUSAND (P9,000.00) PESOS for and as

wake, funeral and burial expenses;

To EXPEDITO BONAOBRA, the following:

1. The sum of TWO THOUSAND (P2,000.00) PESOS for and as

medical and hospitalization expenses;

2. The sum of FIVE THOUSAND (P5,000.00) PESOS for and as

moral damages;

3. The sum of FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (P4,500.00)

PESOS for and as unrealized earnings during the period of his
incapacity;

To JESUS LOTERA, the following:

1. The sum of TWO THOUSAND (P2,000.00) PESOS for medical

and hospitalization expenses;

2. The sum of FIVE THOUSAND (P5,000.00) PESOS for and as

moral damages;

3. The sum of FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (P4,500.00)

PESOS for unrealized earnings during the period of his incapacity;

To ANTONIO ABION, the following:

1. The sum of ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (P1,500.00)

PESOS for and as medical and hospital expenses;

2. The sum of THREE THOUSAND (P3,000.00) PESOS for and

moral damages;

3. The sum of THREE THOUSAND (P3,000.00) PESOS for and as

unrealized earnings during the period of his incapacity.
 Proportionate cost against accused Rustom Bermas.

SO ORDERED.  9

Meanwhile, the JAGO sent a letter to the trial court dated September 2, 1986   informing the latter
10

that the waiver of military jurisdiction over the person and the case of accused Galma Arcilla as
required under P.D. No. 1850, as amended, was no longer necessary as said accused had been
discharged from military service effective August 15, 1986 per Special Order No. 150 dated August
28, 1986 issued by the General Headquarters of the New Armed Forces of the Philippines.  11

Considering that Arcilla was indicted together with Bermas with the amendment of the information
identifying him as Bermas' co-accused and that custody over him was turned over to the trial court
by the Philippine Constabulary, Region V Command,   he was thereafter arraigned and with the
12

assistance of counsel entered a plea of "Not guilty." 

13

During the pre-trial on October 3, 1986, the accused and the prosecution stipulated —

1. That Galma Arcilla was once a member of the 255th Philippine

Constabulary Company of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
stationed at Cale, Tiwi, Albay;

2. That on April 20, 1985 he was still a member of the 255th PC

Company;

3. That he knows Sgt. Rody Madrilejos, the Supply Officer of 255th

PC Company stationed at Cale, Tiwi, Albay; and

4. That he knows his co-accused Rustom Bermas and a certain

Expedito Bonaobra, Barangay Captain of Cawayan, Bacacay,
Albay. 14

The case thereafter proceeded to trial. On November 20, 1989, the court a quo rendered
judgment   against accused Arcilla, the dispositive portion of which reads:
15

WHEREFORE, and finding the accused GALMA ARCILLA GUILTY beyond

reasonable doubt of the crime of MULTIPLE MURDER WITH MULTIPLE
FRUSTRATED MURDER, as charged and as found during the trial, after a
painstaking scrutiny of all evidences presented, and considering all the attendant
circumstances, this Court hereby sentences said accused to suffer the penalty
of RECLUSION PERPETUA, with all the accessories of the law.

Said accused was further ordered to pay jointly and severally with Rustom Bermas, who was earlier
found guilty of the charges and sentenced accordingly, the monetary awards set forth in the earlier
Decision dated September 25, 1986.  16

Bermas and Arcilla thereafter interposed separate appeals seeking the reversal of the trial court's
judgment. Bermas' appeal was docketed as G.R. No. 76414 while Arcilla's was docketed as G.R.
No. 94312. Upon motion of the Solicitor General   the Court resolved to consolidate the appeals per
17

its Resolution dated January 28, 1991.  18

Insisting on his innocence, accused-appellant Galma Arcilla alleges

that —

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN DECLARING THAT THE MASKED

COMPANION OF RUSTOM BERMAS WHO FIRED THE ARMALITE RIFLE TO THE
VICTIMS (sic) WHO WERE THEN AT SEA IN A BANCA (BASNIGAN) AT
NAMANDAY, BACACAY, ALBAY WAS NO OTHER THAN ACCUSED GALMA
ARCILLA, DESPITE THE FAILURE OF THE PROSECUTION WITNESSES TO
IDENTIFY THAT GALMA ARCILLA IS THE SAME MAN.
 II

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN DECLARING THAT THE ARMALITE

RIFLE M-16 CAL. 5.56 OF THE ACCUSED WAS USED IN THE COMMISSION OF
THE CRIME ON APRIL 20, 1985.

III

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN DISREGARDING THE DEATH THREAT

MADE BY RUSTOM BERMAS, JAIME VIBAL AND ANGEL DAYTO ON APRIL 4,
1985 TO THE ABION FAMILY . . .

IV

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN GIVING WEIGHT TO THE BALLISTIC

REPORT B-146-85, EXHIBIT K, [WHICH IS] FAVORABLE TO THE
PROSECUTION, AND WITH DISFAVOR TO THE ACCUSED WHICH IS MARKED
AS EXHIBIT 2 AND 2-A.

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN NOT GIVING WEIGHT TO THE OPEN
COURT TESTIMONY OF PROSECUTION WITNESS SGT. RUDY MADRILEJOS
THAT HE SEIZED AND GOT THE ARMALITE RIFLE M-16 CAL. 5.56 OF THE
ACCUSED FROM THE POSSESSION OF SGT. NONITO LODOR.

VI

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN NOT CONSIDERING THE TESTIMONY

OF [THE] PROSECUTION REBUTTAL WITNESS THAT RUSTOM BERMAS HAS A
BROTHER WHO IS A MILITARY MAN WITH AN ARMALITE AND RUBEN
URSABIA WHO IS ALSO A MILITARY MAN, [AND IS] A CONSTANT COMPANION
OF RUSTOM BERMAS.

VII

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN STATING THAT "IT IS ON RECORD

THAT CERTAIN INCIDENTS HAPPENED LEADING TO THE FAMILY OF THE
ABIONS THE SUBJECT OF AN EXISTING BAD BLOOD WITH THE ACCUSED,
GALMA ARCILLA . . .

VIII

THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN STATING THAT "IT WAS CLEARLY
SHOWN DURING AND IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE COMMISSION OF THE
CRIME WHEN THE ACCUSED HIMSELF ASKED THE INMATES OF THE BOAT,
BASNIGAN, THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AND
INQUIRING AS TO WHO OWNS THE BASNIGAN IN QUESTION: THAT WHEN HE
WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS OWNED BY JOSE ABION, THE OUTBURST OF
BULLETS FROM THE ARMALITE OF THE ACCUSED COMMENCED INFLICTING
DEATHS (sic) AND INJURIES UPON THE INMATES WHOSE NAMES WERE
MENTIONED EARLIES (sic) IN THIS DECISION.

IX

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN STATING THAT THE THRUST OF THE DEFENSE
OF THE ACCUSED IS AN ALIBI.  19

For his part, accused-appellant Rustom Bermas avers that —

I — WITHOUT THE EVIDENCE AS AGAINST THE APPELLANT AND COMPANY

TO THE EVIDENCE ON RECORD, THE TRIAL COURT FOUND REVENGE OR
 ILL-FEELINGS AT THE ABION FAMILY AS THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE
COMMISSION OF THE CRIME CHARGED.

II — THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS FINDING THAT THE APPELLANT WAS "A
CONSPIRATOR, A PRINCIPAL BY INDISPENSABLE COOPERATION OR EVEN
BY DIRECT PARTICIPATION.  20

On the other hand, the Solicitor General recommends that, save for the modifications that: a.] the
accused-appellants be meted penalties of reclusion perpetua for each crime of murder and ten (10)
years of Prision Mayor, as minimum to seventeen (17) years and four (4) months of Reclusion
Temporal, as maximum, for each crime of frustrated murder and two (2) years, four (4) months and
one (1) day of prision correcional, as minimum to eight (8) years of Prision Mayor, as maximum for
attempted murder; and b.] the civil indemnity should be increased to fifty thousand (P50,000.00)
pesos, the decisions dated September 25, 1986 and November 20, 1989 be affirmed in all other
respects. 
21

The prosecution's version of the incident with regard to accused Rustom Bermas's participation
therein is summed thus by the Solicitor General in the People's brief   dated April 30, 1997:
22

On April 20, 1985, around 8:30 p.m., at the sea of Namanday, Bacacay, Albay,
Expedito Bonaobra, barangay captain of Cawayan, Bacacay, Albay,   together with
23

Arturo Abion, Catalino Bellen, Renato Abion, Antonio Abion, Jesus Lotera and
Teodoro Cas were on board a fishing boat (basnigan) named "Sagrada Familia"
owned by Jose Abion   They intended to catch fish that night and brought with them
24

two (2) pressure gas lamps, a fishing net, rope and a pole used for the net.  25

Subsequently, a small paddled boat (sibiran or sibid-sibid) with two (2) men on board
approached the fishing boat. The sibiran proceeded to the prow of the fishing boat
and went around it four (4) times.   As the sibiran circled the fishing boat the second
26

time, Bonaobra and Renato recognized appellant (Bermas) as the one paddling
the sibiran.   he was wearing a denim (maong) jacket and denim pants.   Thereupon,
27 28

Bonaobra ordered Arturo Abion to remove the shade of the gas lamp so that they
could recognize appellant's campanion (sic).   After Arturo removed the shade
29

(pantalla), the sibiran went around the fishing boat two (2) more times.   Those
30

notwithstanding, appellant's (Bermas) companion could not be recognized because

his face was covered with a mask and only his eyes could be seen. Appellant's
(Bermas) companion was then wearing a blue long-sleeved jacket and maong
pants. 31

Bonaobra asked appellant if he and his companion were going to catch fish
(magpadarao man kamo). Appellant answered in the affirmative and told Bonaobra
that they were looking for somebody. Appellant then asked Bonaobra who owned the
fishing boat and Bonaobra informed him that Jose Abion owned it. Thereafter,
appellant and his companion pretended to paddle away. When the sibiran was about
seven (7) meters away from the fishing boat, appellant's companion fired his Armalite
rifle at Bonaobra and his companions. They heard two (20) volleys fired at
them.   They lay down but they could not avoid the attack. The fishing boat was hit
32

and so was one of the pressure gas lamps.  33

After five (5) minutes, Arturo Abion, Renato's father, said that one of them must find
a way to enable them to leave that place. Renato crawled towards the prow of the
fishing boat and turned off the remaining pressure gas lamp. He then loosened the
rope tied to the boat's anchor. After that Renato lost consciousness.   The fishing
34

boat was carried away by the currents of the sea towards the shore of Galicia, Rapu-
Rapu. Jose, Rudy and Santiago Abion found them the following morning.   Arturo 35

Abion and Catalino Bellen were already dead while Antonio Abion, Renato Abion,
Jesus Lotera and Bonaobra were seriously wounded.   The body of Teodoro Cas
36

was missing.

Rudy and Jose transferred those injured to a kumpit, a small basnigan or fishing boat
run by motor while Santiago was left with the dead bodies of Arturo and Bellen. Rudy
and Jose maneuvered the kumpit to Bacacay, Albay where they brought those
injured to [the] Albay Provincial Hospital.   On their way to Bacacay, Albay, Jose
37

asked Bonaobra who shot them and he answered that it was appellant (Bermas) and
a companion. Upon their arrival at the shore of Bacacay, Albay, Rudy also asked
Bonaobra who shot them. Bonaobra told him that they had been shot by appellant
(Bermas) and a companion.  38

Santiago Abion brought the fishing boat to Sitio Cagbulacao where Station
Commander Saliao took the bodies of Arturo and Bellen for autopsy. When Station
Commander Saliao left, Santiago emptied the fishing boat of sea water. In the
process, he found two (2) slugs inside the fishing boat, one already deformed and
the other still round in shape. He took the slugs and gave it to his brother Jose five
(5) days later. Jose in turn brought the two (2) slugs to the police station. The body of
Teodoro Cas was found on April 23, 1895 (sic) in Guinangayan, Albay.  39

The autopsy conducted by Dr. Evelyn A. Amador, Municipal Health Officer, Bacacay,
Albay, on the bodies of Arturo Abion, Catalino Bellen and Teodoro Cas revealed the
following:

Arturo Abion

Date, time and place of autopsy:

April 22, 1985; 10:30 A.M., INP Compound, Bacacay, Albay.

Findings:

External: 1. Body with signs of

decomposition

Internal: 2. Wound, avulsed,

macerated 21 x 10 cm. left lower
lateral thigh shattering and
fragmenting muscles nerves other
tissues and bones in the area.

Cause of death:

Shock due to hemorrhage of wound,

left lower lateral thigh.

(Record, p. 8)

Catalino Bellen

Date, time and place of autopsy:

April 22, 1985, 10:30 A.M., INP Compound, Bacacay, Albay

Findings:

External: 1. Body with signs of

decomposition

Internal: 2. Wound, gunshot mid

forehead 1 x 1 cm., with contusion
collar and brain tissues protruding, this
wound also pierce[d] the frontal bone
underneath the wound and bone,
lacerated.

3. Wound, stabbed, approximately 6

cm. left lower back, with intestines
protruding
 Cause of death:

Brain injury/Hemorrhage secondary to

stab wound

(Record, p. 1)

Teodoro Cas

Date, time and place of autopsy:

April 24, 1985, 6:00 A.M., INP, Bacacay Compound

Findings:

External and Internal: Body

bloated in decomposing stage,
emitting a very foul smell.
Right lateral and back of the
head, scalp and skull avulsed.
The brain tissues are absent.

Cause of death: Severe brain

injuries.

(Record, p. 9)

Dr. Cesar Ong Chua, resident physician at the Albay Provincial Hospital, Legaspi City treated the
injuries of Bonaobra, Renato, Jesus and Antonio. The medical certificates he issued to these
persons stated the following findings:

Antonio Abion

Gunshot wound

— macerated around 5 x 6 cm., P3rd Right leg, posterior aspect.

— multiple abrasion ranging from 2-4 cm., P3rd, right thigh, posterior
aspect.

Operations:

— Debridement and ligation of bleeder

(Record, p. 218)

Expedito Bonaobra

Gunshot wound

— macerated wound, 4 x 6 cm. right shoulder

— fracture, acromias, right shoulder

— A-C separation, right shoulder.

(Record, p. 214)

Renato Abion

Gunshot wound
— lacerated wound, 2 cm., 2 cm., lateral to the sternal border, 5th ICS, with skin
blasting ranging from 0.5 to 1 cm. anterior chest.

— P.O. entry – 2 cm., P3rd, left forearm, anterior aspect.

— P.O. exit – 4 x 4 cm., P3rd, posterior-lateral aspect, left forearm.

— macerated wound 4 x 5 cm. bone deep and massive tissue injury, right hand
dorsum.

— lacerated wound, 2 x 1 cm.

(Record, p. 219)

Jesus Lotera

Gunshot wound

— point of entry – 1cm. D3rd, lateral aspect, left thigh.

— point of exit 7 x 4 cm., D3rd, posterior aspect, left thigh

— lacerated wound 8 x 4 cm., P3d, left thigh, posterior aspect.

Operations:

Debridement and ligation of bleeders.

(Record, p. 219)

Dr. Chua testified that the injuries inflicted on Bonaobra, Antonio and Jesus would
have caused their death without timely medical attention, while those inflicted on
Renato would not have killed him even without timely medical intervention.  40

Vicente R. De Vera, a ballistician of the Philippine Constabulary Crime Laboratory

Service, Camp Crame, Quezon City, declared that an examination of [the] Armalite
rifle M16 with serial number 3265859   and two (2) fired bullets, recovered from the
41

fishing boat marked as T and T-1, shows that the bullets were fired from said
rifle.   Sgt. Rudy Madrilejos, a supply sargeant of 255 PC Company Station at Calo,
42

Tiwi, Albay, testified that a rifle caliber 5.56 mm m16 with serial number 3265859 had
been issued to Galma Arcilla.  43

Santiago Abion testified that on October 13, 1984, he and his wife Nelly went to a
public dance at Namanday, Bacacay, Albay. He saw appellant (Bermas), Arcilla and
Ruben Ursabin drinking gin about five arms length away.   He and his wife went
44

home at about 9:30 o'clock p.m. the following day, at apimd (sic) 2:00 o'clock in the
afternoon, Daniel Abion went to Santiago's house Daniel warned Santiago that he
was being suspected by Arcilla as the person who had mauled him. However, Daniel
admitted that he was the one who mauled Arcilla after the latter had beaten up
Leopoldo.  45

On October 15, 1984, Santiago went to the house of his brother Rudy.   Rudy was
46

not there as he was selling fish.   Suddenly, six (6) armed men barged into
47

Santiago's house and asked Nelly, who was then pregnant, the whereabouts of her
husband. According to Santiago, he saw the armed men, because he peeped
through the window of Rudy's house. He also recognized one of the armed as Ruben
Ursabin. Santiago's wife, Nelly was so scared that she suffered a miscarriage.  48

On April 4, 1985, at around 8:30 o'clock p.m., Santiago bought cigarettes from the
store of Asterio Bellen. On his way home, he saw appellant (Bermas), Angel Daybo
and Jaime Sibal. He passed by his cousin's house. Salvador Abion called him and
asked for a cigarette. Later appellant (Bermas), Daybo and Sibal entered the house
 of Salvador. Appellant pounded his palm on the table, hit the wall, pointed his finger
at Santiago and uttered "babalonan co an mga baraca pag oli co" (I will bring the
baraca when I go home). "Baraca" is the appellation of the Abion family.  49

The People's account with regard to accused Galma Arcilla's participation in the incident, which was
dubbed as the "Namanday Massacre,"   is identical with the above-quoted factual narrative.
50

Additionally, in the appellee's brief dated September 3, 1993,   the prosecution narrated —
51

. . . that sometime in October 1984, while appellant was drinking with Rustom
Bermas, Ruben Ursabia and Angel Dayto inside the dance hall of Namanday,
Bacacay, Albay, appellant was involved in a fistfight, where he boxed Leopoldo
Abion on the chest.   When Leopoldo Abion's brother Daniel Abion, arrived, appellant
52

went out of the dance hall.   Daniel Abion, however, was able to hit appellant on the
53

face with a piece of

wood.  54

Santiago Abion corroborated the testimony of Renato Abion that on October 13,
1984, at about 8:30 p.m., appellant, Rustom Bermas and Ruben Ursabia were
drinking inside the dance hall of Namanday, Bacacay,
Albay.   Santiago Abion further testified that: a) on October 14, 1984, at about 2:00
55

p.m., Ruben Ursabia and five other armed persons who were looking for him
(Santiago Abion) went to his house, but they did not find him there because he was
at the nearby house of his brother; b) on April 4, 1985, at about 8:30 p.m., when
Santiago Abion was at the door of the house of his cousin, Salvador Abion, Rustom
Bermas pounded on a table and said to Santiago Abion "Balunon co an mga baraka
sa pag-uli co" (I will bring home the baraka), the baraka being the death threat to the
Abion family;   and c) a day after the "Namanday Massacre", or on April 21, 1985,
56

Santiago Abion found two (2) slugs inside the fishing boat, "Sagrada Familia", which
were submitted to the police authorities for examination.  57

xxx xxx xxx

Sgt. Rudy Madrilejos testified that on February 14, 1985, he issued to appellant an
Armalite rifle, which is particularly described as rifle caliber 5.56 MM M16 with Serial
Number 3265859.   Sgt. Rudy Madrilejos further testified that when he was ordered
58

by the Provincial headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) to bring back said
Armalite rifle for ballistic examination, he got it from Sgt. Nonito Lodor on April 2, 22
or 23, 1985.  59

Cpl. Teodoro Berango testified that the investigation conducted by the military on the "Namanday
Massacre" found appellant as the principal suspect of the crime.   Cpl. Berango then requested the
60

Provincial Commander to recall the Armalite rifle issued to appellant.   In the course of the
61

investigation, Cpl. Berango was informed that appellant and Rustom Bermas had a drinking spree
on April 20, 1985 at Liguan, Rapu-Rapu, Albay, which is only two (2) kilometers away from
Namanday, Bacacay, Albay.  62

Gracia Dagcel testified that sometime in April 1989, one Capt. Mapalo and other persons went to her
house at Liguan, Rapu-Rapu, Albay to apprehend her for illegal possession of firearms; on that
occasion appellant, then a constable in the Philippine Constabulary, wore a mask."  63

The accused-appellants, on the other hand, presented a contrasting picture.

Accused-appellant Galma Arcilla insists, in sum, that he was some place else at the time of the
commission of the crime.

He testified that he is a resident of Malilipot, Albay and was a member of the 255th PC Company
stationed at Cale, Tiwi, Albay where he held the position of Assistant Detachment Commander of the
Pamal Checkpoint at
Tiwi.   As a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), he was issued an Armalite M-16,
64

Cal. 5.56 automatic rifle   by the Philippine Constabulary (PC) through Sgt. Rudy Madrilejos.   At the
65 66

time of the incident, his rifle was in the possession of Sgt. Nonito Lodor, Commander of the
Intelligence Operations Post (IOP) Detachment at Capantagan, Tiwi, Albay   to whom he usually
67
entrusts it whenever he goes home to see his family.   It was in the possession of Lodor on the said
68

date because on April 17, 1985, he went home upon being informed by the uncle of his wife that his
wife was sick   and stayed there up to April 24, 1985. 
69 70

At the time of the commission of the felony on April 20, 1985 and at about 8:00 p.m., he was at his
house in Santicon, San Antonio, Malilipot, Albay, drinking with his friends Benito Bobiles, Filoteo
Bobiles, and Florencio Berchez who came to his house bringing with them three (3) round bottles of
gin and chicken   to commemorate the death anniversary of Benito Bobiles' father. They celebrated
71

the occasion at Arcilla's house instead of the Bobiles residence because Arcilla's wife was sick with
flu and fever at that time and Arcilla could not leave because he had to tend to her as well as the
household chores.  72

They started drinking at 6:00 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m.   Arcilla subsequently sent his brother-in-
73

law to buy two (2) more bottles of gin after they consumed the three (3) brought by Benito, Filoteo
and Florencio.   During the drinking session, the only times Arcilla and his companions went out
74

were those times when they had to attend to their personal needs.   After the drinking session ended
75

at 11:00 p.m., Arcilla's visitors went home while Arcilla himself never went out after they finished
drinking because he went to bed.  76

Rustom Bermas, who is employed as a "spotter" working eight-hour shifts at a local mining firm and
a councilman of Barangay Liguan   had a similar story to tell.
77

As gleaned from his testimony and that of his co-witnesses Manuel Balbastro, Vicente Bonaobra and
Jose Belir, on April 20, 1984, he was already working at 7:00 a.m. having reported for work at 6:00
a.m.   At the end of his work shift, he and his co-workers dispersed.   Outside the workplace, he met
78 79

with Manuel Balbastro, Vicente Bonaobra, Nestor Semeniano and Jose Belir.  80

Upon meeting, the group decided to drink   with each of them initially pitching in to buy liquor.   They
81 82

started drinking at past 5:00 p.m.   at Bermas' house.   They left Bermas' house at past 7:00 p.m.
83 84

after consuming two (2) bottles of gin   and proceeded to the store of Solano Mecaller where they
85

stayed up to 9:00 p.m.   At the Mecaller store, they consumed one (1) flat bottle (lapad) of Andy
86

Player whisky.   From the Mecaller store, they proceeded to a boat or sampan which was docked at
87

the pantalan or pier   where they consumed one (1) "long neck" of Andy Player whisky.   While they
88 89

were at the sampan nobody went out to buy liquor because they bought what they consumed at the
Mecaller store.   They stayed there up to past 1:00 a.m. after which they parted ways. 
90 91

In fine, accused-appellant Galma Arcilla insists he is innocent because: 1.] none of the twelve (12)
prosecution witnesses identified him as the masked man who fired at the victims; 2.] the automatic
rifle used in the felony is not the firearm issued to him; 3.] he was not in possession of the rifle at the
time of the commission of the crime; 4.] Rustom Bermas together with Jaime Vibal and Angel Dayto
threatened the Abion Family with death before the commission of the crime; 5.] Rustom Bermas has
a brother who is a member of the PC as well as a constant companion who are both PC soldiers
similarly armed with automatic Armalite rifles and such firearms could have been the ones used by
Bermas and his masked companion in the perpetration of the felony.

We disagree.

That indeed the prosecution witnesses may not have identified the masked man who fired the
automatic rifle at the victims is of no moment. Well-settled is the rule that direct evidence of the
commission of the crime is not the only matrix whence a trial court may draw its conclusions and
findings of
guilt. 
92

The evidence is replete with enough proven details to sustain the guilt of accused-appellant Galma
Arcilla at the very least on the basis of circumstantial evidence. The totality of such evidence would
be sufficient if: a.] there is more than one circumstance; b.] the facts from which the inferences are
derived have been established; and c.] the combination of all these circumstances is such as to
warrant a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.   A judgment of conviction based on
93

circumstantial evidence can be sustained when the circumstances proven form an unbroken chain
which leads to a fair and reasonable conclusion pointing to the accused, to the exclusion of all
others, as the malefactor. These circumstances proven must be consistent with each other,
consistent with the hypothesis that the accused is guilty, and at the same time inconsistent with any
other hypothesis except that of guilt.  94
Assaying the facts against the foregoing legal yardsticks, We defer to exhaustive findings of the trial
court which pointedly observed that:

It is on record that certain incidents happened leading to the family of the Abions the
subject of an existing bad blood with the accused, Galma Arcilla, viz:

a) A fist fight during a dance at Namanday on October 13, 1985

where accused Galma Arcilla was the aggressor and Leopoldo Abion
was subjected to fist blows by him hitting the latter on his chest, this
writhing in pain and sitting on a corner of the dance hall at Namanday
when moments later, the brother of Leopoldo, Daniel Abion, arrived
and hit Galma Arcilla with a piece of wood; thus, an even situation
transpired that accused Galma Arcilla kept on looking for an
opportunity of revenge against the Abions. After Daniel left, Rustom
Bermas, the usual confederate and companion of the accused,
arrived for the purpose of getting even with the Abions, but luckily
nothing happened because Daniel had left already;

b) The apparent show of bad blood with the Abions when on October
14, 1985, Galma Arcilla was with a group of men forced open the
window of the house of Santiago Abion with the use of the tip of a
gun, looking for the latter, thus his wife got scared and was
hospitalized. This incident was reported to the PC-INP of Bacacay,
Albay, showing the abuses of these men in uniform including the
accused in this case;

c) The accused, being a PC enlisted man and with authority to

possess firearm, a healthy and well-built fellow in the prime of his life,
will never allow himself to be outdone and controlled by anybody,
such as this simple family of fishermen of the same barangay as the
accused;

d) At the precise moment of the multiple killing and frustrated murder

with the use of an Armalite rifle, the accused availing of the mantle of
darkness, masking himself beyond recognition and looking for his
prey, the family with whom he entertained rancor and grudge for the
purpose of revenge, thus accused himself, before firing, asserted for
himself that indeed the subject of his prey the Abions were there, thus
the moment of truth happened.

The accused made manifest that they were looking for someone else and asked for
the owner of the "basnigan"; that when informed that the same is owned by Jose
Abion, the family they were looking for, without delay, the burst of fire was made
upon the helpless fishermen consisting mostly of the persons coming from the said
Abion clan, leading to the multiple killing of three men, namely Catalino Bellen, Arturo
Abion and Teodoro Cas as shown by their respective autopsy reports, Exhibits "F,"
"G, and "H," and injuries to four persons, namely Antonio Abion, Jesus Lotera,
Renato Abion and Expedito Bonaobra where all were medically attended to as
shown by their respective medical certificates, Exhibits "Q," "R," "P" and "O''.

The treacherous killing of the three victims and four who were seriously injured are
indeed the physical evidence constituting this case.

Physical evidence is the highest order which speaks more eloquently

than all witnesses put together, Pp. v. Bardaje, 99 SCRA 3881; Pp. v.
Caudillo, GR 45266, Nov. 24, 1988.

In all these incidents, the two accused were always seen together. No iota of doubt
prevails that the same masked man during the night of April 20, 1984, the person
who fired the armalite rifle was no other than Galma Arcilla, the owner of the armalite
ballistically examined, a trained sharpshooter being a member of the PC Command,
responsible for the commission of the crime of murder charged.
The Court noted that the maximum efficiency of the result when the volley of fire
coming from accused's armalite rifle when fired was no doubt due to his efficiency in
handling guns, being properly oriented in the use of his rifle as a PC enlisted man,
which accused himself admitted in his testimonies. This is proven by the fact that for
his volley of fire made during the commission of the crime, it resulted to three deaths
and four seriously injured.

The ballistician, Vicente de Vera, Chief Ballistician of the PC-INP, clearly testified
that the two bullet slugs subjected for ballistic examination were indeed fired from no
other armalite rifle, except the M-16 rifle, Caliber .223 with serial number 3265859,
the very weapon issued to Galma Arcilla, as shown by the records of the PC and
specifically testified to by Sgt. Rodolfo Madrilejos.

The gun was issued to Galma Arcilla as testified to by Sgt. Despabiladeras and Sgt.
Madrilejos as supported by the records of the office. From the time the gun in
question was placed in his custody for purposes of the ballistic examination, the
same was well handled, kept and taken care of until the result was released. He took
the gun and kept it without anybody having access to it until it was delivered to Col.
Averilla.

Moreover, Sgt. Despabiladeras, custodian of the rifle, testified that replacement of

the parts of the gun could not have been made while the same was in his custody.
Furthermore, he testified clearly that the specimens in question were taken care of
carefully until it was delivered to Col. Averilla for ballistic examination.

It should be noted that there was no other suspect to the supposed killing, thus there
was no evidence shown by the accused that other persons were interested in the
suppression of evidence or passing the buck to him as a scapegoat to the
perpetration of the heinous offense charged.

Sgt. Rodolfo Madrilejos emphatically declared that Armalite rifle M-16, Serial No.
3265859 is the very rifle as a whole issued to the accused and the same parts are all
intact; that the gun was never fired after retrieved and taken from Sgt. Lodor. And
furthermore, the ammunitions which the accused alleged to have been kept in a
locker were never produced when demanded; the pretext of an alleged encounter
that happened in Bantayan, Tabaco, where these ammunitions were used appears a
hoax for said encounter never existed as a fact for there were no dissident
harassments in the area in the year 1984. All these facts weakened the defense of
the accused more specifically as to its credibility.

On the date in question, April 20, 1984, the accused Galma Arcilla, then a PC
enlisted man, was on leave as admitted by him. An alibi was presented that he was
in his barangay, San Antonio, Santicon, Malilipot, Albay, instead of Namanday,
Bacacay, Albay where the crime was committed. No impossibility for him to go to
Namanday was shown on the records and more so because alibi is a weak offense. 1âwphi1.nêt

Emphatic denial of accused Galma Arcilla on his being at the place of the
commission of the offense at Namanday was made and putting as alibi that he was
at San Antonio, Santicon, Malilipot, Albay, attending to his sick wife. This fact was
vouched and testified to by his neighbor friends, Benito Bobiles and Florentino
Berchez, likewise residents of San Antonio, Santicon, Malilipot, Albay. The accused
denied the charge, claiming that on the 20th day of April 1985, he was at his
headquarters and that specifically from 6:00 o'clock to 11:00 o'clock in the evening of
said date, he was hosting a drinking party at his house with several friends, such that
it would be impossible for him to be at Namanday, Bacacay, Albay. In fine, the
defense is alibi, not being at the place of the commission of the offense but at such
other place. He has not shown proofs that it would be physically impossible for him
to be at the place of Namanday where the offense was committed. Namanday,
Bacacay, Albay and San Antonio, Santicon, Malilipot, Albay could be traveled by a
motorboat easily within a few hours, if need be. His claim to be at the headquarters
on that date is belied by the record for he left the camp on April 17, 1985 and only to
return to his place of work at Cale, Tiwi, Albay, so that on April 20, 1985, he was then
set free to go to any place of his own accord.
He alleged that he could not have inflicted such heinous crime as charged because
there was no motive nor existing misunderstanding between him and the victims. The
records as shown above abound on the fact that an existing bad blood harbored by
the accused Galma Arcilla against the family of the Abions were clearly shown and
proven by the evidence. It was clearly shown during and immediately before the
commission of the crime when the accused himself asked the inmates on the boat, a
"basnigan," that they were looking for somebody else and inquiring further as to who
owns the "basnigan" in question; that when he was informed that it was owned by
Jose Abion, the outburst of bullets from the armalite of the accused commenced
inflicting deaths (sic) and injuries upon the inmates whose names were mentioned
earlier in this decision.

As to the firearm in question, he denied that Armalite rifle M-16, Caliber .223 is not
the gun issued to him. He alleged that Armalite Caliber 5.56 with a different serial
number was the very rifle under his custody. This fact was belied by the testimony of
the issuing officer and by the records that what was indeed issued to the accused
Galma Arcilla, in this respect, is the former described gun, rather than Caliber 5.56.

It is amazing to note that the accused, before leaving the camp on April 17, 1985,
entrusted the gun in question to Sgt. Nonito Lodor, at the latter's house at
Capantagan, Cale, Tiwi, Albay, rather than at the headquarters which is but a
distance of about a few meters, more or less, to his place of work. The headquarters
of the 255th PC Company where said rifle could have been kept and/or entrusted
would be a safer place aside from it being secured and in consonance with military
requirement. This was not well explained by the accused why instead of leaving said
rifle at the proper office, the headquarters of the 255th PC Company, the same was
entrusted to Sgt. Nonito Lodor, in the latter's house.

Again, his leaving his armalite rifle to Sgt. Nonito Lodor in the latter's house with a
distance of over five (5) kilometers from his detachment office in Capantagan,
compared to the distance of the 255th PC Command Headquarters in Cale, Tiwi,
Albay, of only over 100 meters is a matter which the accused failed to explain to the
satisfaction of the Court. Military regulations dictate that firearms as the gun in this
instance should be placed more safely with the duly authorized enlisted men of the
command in taking custody of the rifles in the headquarters, rather than entrusting it
to anyone to be kept in a private house, as what the accused had done in this
instance when he allegedly left the gun in the house of Sgt. Lodor.

It is perplexing to note that per accused testimony, it was Sgt. Nonito Lodor himself
who informed him for the first time that accused was a suspect in this crime and that
the armalite rifle issued to him was the one involved during the shooting. If it is true,
as alleged by Galma Arcilla, that same gun was deposited and was in the custody of
Sgt. Lodor, the latter would not confront him as now testified to by accused.

On the 375 ammunitions borne out by the records to have been issued to the
accused, the latter was only able to return 191 of said ammunitions; thus, 184 were
missing. He attributed the missing 184 ammunitions to an alleged encounter with
dissidents at Bantayan, Tabaco, Albay, which was not borne out by the records of
his command, nor supported by witnesses coming from the 255th PC Company as to
the existence of said encounter with the dissidents. The accused at first, claimed that
the 184 missing ammunitions were said to be left in a house and promised to return
the same, but he failed to do so.

The records also show that the said ammunitions were left in a locker, supposed to
be returned to the issuing officer when required, but said accused failed to account
for the same. Again, the version of the use of the ammunitions with an encounter
with the dissidents is mysteriously put up. There is thus, therefore, a suspicion logical
enough that the missing ammunitions were indeed used in the commission of the
crime adverted to.

The accused further maintained that some parts of the armalite rifle issued to him,
such as the stock group and the handguard were replaced by other parts coming
from a different armalite for the purpose of tampering the evidence leading to his
involvement in the crime at issue. But he failed to show or present any person
interested for that matter. Moreover, the same had been disproved by the officer
entrusted with the custody of the armalite rifle, as well as its ammunitions when the
same were recalled for ballistic examination.

The claim that the barrel receiver group of the gun in question is replaced on the
pretext of an alleged hole on his gun issued to him and a detachable red cloth
attached to the tip of said firearm are matters hard to believe. Accused Galma could
not pinpoint to anyone else responsible for the insertions and/or replacement of the
stock group of his gun to the barrel receiver of another, if only to implicate him of the
crime.

This defense is elaborate, well orchestrated scheme and designed to

exculpate an accused which is deserving of no credence, Pp. v.
Magdaraog, GR-40988, April 15, 1988.

Accused claimed that he could not commit such crime of which he is being charged
because he is receiving sufficient salary as a PC enlisted man of P2,000.00 or even
more per month, is beside the issue in this case. The Court cannot agree with this
reasoning that because he is financially well-off, he could not have committed the
crime of which he is present charged.

He was evasive to mention the fact having gone to the place where the incident in
question happened, such as in Namanday, Bacacay, Albay or Liguan, Rapu-Rapu,
Albay, thus, testifying in his defense that his residence is in Sabang, Legazpi City,
which, upon his marriage, he transferred to San Antonio Santicon, Malilipot, Albay;
that he had never gone to Liguan, Rapu-Rapu, Albay, except once in 1982. This
pretension was disproved by abundant evidence on the part of the prosecution that
the accused had been seen before, during and after the incident in question at
Liguan, Rapu-Rapu, Albay with his co-accused and other companions drinking liquor
at the same place. He even led a raiding party for the purpose of serving a search
warrant to the family of Gracia Estevez Dagcel. In all these pretentions, the Court
ultimately found that the accused had committed abundant falsities in his claim to
exculpate himself as shown by his perjured testimonies in Court under oath. It should
be relevant to note that the person who actually was responsible in the firing was
one of the same build, height and physic as Rustom Bermas, a man who was in
"maong" pants but with a vest and a mask purposely made so as not to have himself
identified. The same incident was repeated when the accused guided a raiding party
for the purpose of serving a search warrant when he was again using the same
mask and vest for himself, but later on unveiled himself to be identified as the
present Galma Arcilla in this case. The saying goes that crime does not pay which, in
this instance, may be relevant and worthwhile repeating with respect to the
actuations of the accused hereof.

He alleged that despite the party held in San Antonio Santicon, Malilipot, Albay in the
afternoon of April 20, 1985 in memory of the death anniversary of Benito Bobiles'
father who died many years ago and which was being held at the latter's house,
accused transferred the venue of said party from Benito's residence to his house, if
only to accommodate him. This is far from the accepted norm prevailing in this
locality as the Court may judicially notice.

His pretentions not having gone to Liguan, Rapu-Rapu for a long, long time, except
once in 1982 and no longer thereafter, his denial of having any relative in said place,
his having not known the family of Rustom Bermas, his co-accused, were all belied
by witnesses who testified to have seen him in Liguan many times, as well as
Solomon Arcilla being a close relative of his in Liguan and that most of the time, he
was with Rustom Bermas, his co-accused, before, during and after the commission
of the crime in question.

Gracia Estevez Dagcel belied most of the allegations of the accused as follows: On
the denial of Galma Arcilla having not gone to Liguan, Rapu-Rapu, Albay, this
witness categorically declared that accused was seen many times in 1989 in Liguan
and that he even went to her house where he was served and entertained by this
witness to drink liquor together with his friends and companions.
 The accused denied having gone to Liguan during the service of the search warrant.
However, this witness, Gracia Dagcel testified that accused indeed was there that
the search warrant was served by him on a Friday and again the following day, a
Saturday, a confrontation with accused was made when she blamed him for the
search in this instance.

The accused was seen in Liguan on several occasions with Ruben Ursabia
conducting the search of a gun allegedly owned by the husband of Gracia. That on
such occasion, the accused was with other military men, including Capt. Romeo
Mapalo, conducting the search, and Galma Arcilla was again wearing his mask with
a hood for purposes of avoiding recognition for himself, but he was recognized on
that occasion.

Accused disclaiming any participation in the search application and its issuance are
belied by abundant evidence, such as exhibits "X" and "Y-1", his application for the
search warrant, Exhibit "Z", his affidavit supporting the application, Exhibits "BB" and
"BB-1", the search warrant itself where the accused was a witness, Exhibits "CC"
and "CC-1" to "CC-19", reflecting the accused telling lies to the Court of his alleged
non-participation to the proceedings, and Exhibits "DD", "DD-1" to "DD-3", a group
picture depicting accused, Galma Arcilla, with other men in Liguan, Rapu-Rapu,
Albay.

Accused's pretentions in the sur-rebuttal by presenting his witness in the person of

the Provincial Warden with whom he was supposed to be in custody as a detention
prisoner were shown that Galma was indeed allowed to leave his detention upon the
request of Capt. Mapalo for this particular incident. Instances when detention
prisoners, as the accused herein, were allowed to leave detention, aside from the
orders of the Court, were on requests of lawyers or military personnel for that matter.

Moreover, accused's denial to be present in that dance at Namanday, Bacacay,

Albay on October 13, 1985, was belied by the fact when he inflicted fistic blows upon
Leopoldo Abion, and consequently that incident led to his being hit also by a piece of
wood by Daniel Abion, brother of Leopoldo.

In fine, all if not most of accused's pretentions in his defense were shattered by the
foregoing elucidated facts as borne out by the records either directly or
circumstantially the evidence abounds in support of a proof beyond reasonable doubt
that the crime charged against Galma Arcilla, has certainly been proven as above
discussed and shown. (Emphasis upplied)

In addition to the foregoing, it is interesting to note that for all Arcilla's protestations that an M-16 Cal.
5.56 Armalite is different from an M-16 Cal. .223, the records disclose that there is, in fact, no
difference between the two firearms. Particularly illuminating on this point is the following testimony
of Vicente De Vera, Chief Ballistician of the PC Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame, Quezon City who
declared that both .233 and 5.56 calibers refer to the same rifle despite repeated attempts of
defense counsel to throw him off track:

ATTY. REOLO:

Q — According to the evidence of the prosecution which is a

memorandum receipt marked in evidence as Exhibit "A" the firearm
issued to accused is 5.56 M-16 Armalite rifle with serial no. 3265859.
My question is you have not performed microscopic examination and
comparison on the 5.56 caliber M-16 Armalite with serial no. 3265859
because what you have examined thru (sic) your microscopic
examination for comparison is .223 caliber M-16 Armalite rifle with
serial no. 3265859 as shown in your ballistic report, is that correct?

A — That is not correct because 5.56 M-16 is in military parlance

while .223 caliber is in commercial parlance. In other words they are
the same.
 Q — I am asking you whether you performed microscopic
examination and comparison on 5.56 M-16 Armalite rifle and .223
caliber in your ballistic report.

A — Anyway 5.56 is not the subject matter in the case. I need not to
make the necessary microscopic examination.

Q — What I am objecting to was the coming (sic) from 5.56 M-16 with
the Serial No. 3265859. But you have not mentioned in ballistic report
marked as Exhibit "K" that you have performed [a microscopic
examination on an] 5.56 caliber M-16 Armalite rifle, is that correct?

A — That is not correct to mention, that is [a] redundancy.

Q — By the way, .223 caliber is the same as that of 5.56 caliber M-16
and the .223 is the commercial parlance. Will you not agree with me
[that] there are several calibers like 5.56, 7.52 and .223 calibers?

A — I will not agree with you Ma'am.

Q — You will not agree. But there are different calibers of an Armalite
M-16 those which I have mentioned, is it not?

A — 7.62 a different caliber.

Q — Is not that in a firearm or sidearm there are different calibers?

A — Yes, ma'am.

Q — We have the caliber .45, .38, .22 so that on the said firearm
there is a difference in the caliber?

A — Insofar as the caliber in the firearm is concerned. M-16 has only

one caliber either designated 5.56 caliber MM is the European
version. In other words, .223 caliber and 5.56 MM are one at the
same.  95

All these circumstances, evident from the recital of facts heretofore given, clearly yield a fair and
reasonable conclusion pointing to herein accused-appellant Galma Arcilla as the malefactor who
fired the high-powered automatic rifle at the victims. 
96

Rustom Bermas, in professing his innocence, claims that: 1.] He has no motive to kill the victims
because he has no quarrel with the Abion Family; and 2.] Conspiracy was not proven.

These claims are, likewise, bereft of merit.

Rustom Bernas' pretext that he has not ill motive to kill the victims pales into insignificance vis-a-
vis his positive identification by prosecution witnesses Expedito Bonaobra and Renato Abion. The
trial court which had the opportunity and directly hear the testimony of these two (2) prosecution
witnesses, gave credence to their assertion that they saw Bermas paddling the sibid-sibid which
approach the prow of their basnigan.  97

Time and again, this Court has stated that "[t]he credibility of witnesses and their testimonies is a
matter best undertaken by the trial court because of its unique opportunity to observe the witnesses
firsthand and note their demeanor, conduct and attitude. Findings of the trial court on such matter
are binding and conclusive on the appellate court, unless some facts or circumstances of weight and
substance have been overlooked, misapprehended or misinterpreted."   Appellants have shown no
98

cogent reason to depart from this well-settled doctrine and this Courts finds none.

Furthermore, it equally bears stressing that proof of ill-motive to commit the crime becomes
irrelevant with the positive identification of the accused. Therefore, attributing to accused Bermas the
motive of the vengeance is unnecessary where he was positively identified as the one of the
malefactors.   Motives assumes significance only where there is no showing of who the perpetrators
99

of the crime were.   Verily —

100

Positive identification where the categorical and consistent and without any showing
of ill motive on the part of the eyewitness testifying on the matters prevails over a
denial which, if not substantiated by a clear and convincing evidence is negative and
self-serving evidence undeserving of weight in law. They cannot be given greater
evidentiary value over the testimony of credible witnesses who testify on affirmative
matters.  101

Even , however, were this Court to delve into the motive which may have actuated the accused-
appellant to commit such crimes, a circumspect scrutiny of the record will readily disclose abundant
proof that accused-appellants had an axe to grind against the Abions despite Bermas' pretensions to
the contrary. The existence of such a feud between the accused-appellants and the Abions is
underscored by the fact that Bermas together with Jaime Vibal and Angel Dayto barged into
Santiago Abion's house where he pounded the table, hit the wall and pointed his finger at Santiago
uttering the threat "Babalonan co an mga baraca pag oli co."   The threat came to fruition several
102

days later on that fateful night when the victims were mercilessly strafed with an Armalite rifle by
Arcilla while they were on board their basnigan.

In an attempt to undetermined the cause of the prosecution and to exculpate himself, accused
Bermas further insist that "his paddling of the banca to and from the scene of the incident is
insufficient proof conspiracy."  103

The paucity of the argument is at once evident. In conspiracy, direct proof of a previous agreement
to commit a crime is not necessary.   It may be deduced from the mode and manner in which the
104

offense was perpetrated, or inferred from the acts of the accused themselves when such point to a
joint purpose and designs, concerted action and community of interest.   The records clearly bear
105

out that with the armed and hooded Arcilla on board, Bermas maneuvered their sibid-sibid up close
to the victims' basnigan. He watched in stolid silence, nary raising a whimper of protest even when
Arcilla commenced firing at the victims. After the carnage, he calmly paddled the banca away from
the crime scene. Given such peculiar facts obtaining in this case, Bermas' paddling of the sibiran to
and from the scene of the crime, on the contrary, underscores his community of designs, interest
and purpose in the perpetration of the felonies.

Apparent then from the foregoing facts is the unity of purpose and designs in the execution of the
unlawful act.   Where, as in this case, conspiracy is shown, the precise modality or extent of
106

participation of each accused becomes secondary and the act of one may be imputed to all the
conspirators.   In other words, a person found in a conspiracy with the actual perpetrator of the
107

crime by performing specific acts with such closeness and coordination as the one who executed the
criminal act is equally guilty as the latter   because in the eyes of the law, each conspirator is a co-
108

principal and is equally guilty with the other members of the plot.  109

In their defense, both accused-appellant interposed alibi. No jurisprudence in criminal law is more
settled than that alibi is the weakest of all defense for it is easy to contrive and difficult to disprove
and for which reason it is generally rejected.   Viewed against the factual backdrop of the case,
110

accused-appellants' defense of alibi easily crumbles under the weight of the evidence arrayed
against them.

With regard to the offenses committed, accused-appellants have been convicted of multiple murder
with multiple frustrated murder. As alleged in the Information, the perpetration of the felonies was
qualified by treachery and evident premeditation.

For alevosia to qualify the crime to murder, it must be shown that: a] the malefactor employed such
means, method or manner of execution as to ensure his or her safety from the defensive or
retaliatory acts of the victim; and b] the said means, method and manner of execution was
deliberately adopted.   Treachery exists when any of the crimes against persons is committed with
111

the employment of means, methods or forms that tend directly and especially to insure its execution,
such that the offender faces no risk that may arise from the defense which the offended party might
make.   The essence of treachery is the swift and unexpected attack on an unsuspecting and
112

unarmed victim who does not give the slightest provocation.  113

In the case at bench, the concurrence of the foregoing conditions are firmly anchored on the
testimonial declarations of the prosecution witnesses Expedito Bonaobra and Renato Abion which
are consistent with the autopsy findings of Dr. Evelyn A. Amador on the bodies of Arturo Abion,
Catalino Bellen and Teodoro Cas as well as the medical certificates issued by Dr. Cesar Ong Chua
who treated the injuries sustained by Jesus Lotera, Antonio Abion, Expedito Benaobra and Renato
Abion.

It need not be overemphasized that the sudden and unanticipated volley of gunfire from a high-
powered automatic rifle at the unsuspecting and unarmed victims coupled with other means resorted
to which tended directly and especially to insure the success of the assault   underscores the
114

existence of treachery. To reiterate, a deliberate, unexpected and sudden attack under

circumstances which render the hapless victim unable and unprepared to defend himself or to afford
him any chance to escape by reason of the suddenness and severity of the assault
constitutes alevosia.  115

With regard to nighttime, it needs be stressed that the mere fact that the mere fact that the offense
was committed at night will not suffice to sustain a finding a noctrunity.   By and of itself, nighttime is
116

not an aggravating circumstances; it becomes so only when: 1.] it is specially sought by the offender;
2.] it was taken advantage of by him; or 3.] it facilitates the commission of the crime by insuring the
offender's immunity from capture.   In the case at bench, other than the time of the occurrence of
117

the felony, nothing else suggests that it was consciously resorted to by accused-appellants to
facilitate the commission of the crime or that it was availed of for the purpose of impunity.  118

Indeed, the records show that the scene of the crime was well illuminated by two (2) pressure gas
lamps which were on board the basnigan   and that Expedito Bonaobra, in fact, even ordered Arturo
119

Abion to remove the shade (pantalla) of the gas lamp so that they could recognize accused Bermas'
companion.   Be that as it may, nocturnity is absorbed in treachery and can not be appreciated as a
120

generic aggravating circumstance.   Likewise abuse of superior strength is absorbed in treachery,

121

hence, it can not be appreciated as an independent aggravating circumstance when treachery is

already present.  122

The generic aggravating circumstance of disguise (disfraz) must, however, be appreciated in case at
bench. There is disguise when some uses some device to prevent recognition.   Where a 123

malefactor wore a mask to conceal his identity during the commission of the crime, as is what
happened in this case where accused Arcilla wore a hood at that time he strafed the victims with his
Armalite rifle, disguise is present and considered a generic aggravating circumstance.  124

While this Court is convinced that treachery attended the commission of the felonies, evident
premeditation has not been proven. It has been stated time and again in a litany of cases that for this
circumstance to be appreciated, the following elements must be clearly proved as the commission of
the crime itself, namely: a.] the time when the offender decided to commit the crime; b.] an act
manifestly indicating that he clung to his determination to commit it; and c.] a sufficient lapse of time
between the determination and execution to allow him to reflect upon the consequences of his act
and for his conscience to overcome the resolution of his will had he desired to hearken to its
warning.   In the case at bench, there has been no showing that prior to the commission of the
125

offenses, the accused-appellants resolved to kill the victims nor was there proof that their acts were
the result of a cold and dispassionate calculation of their part. Absent such a showing, evident
premeditation can not be appreciated against them.  126

With regard to the number of crimes committed, the Solicitor General contends that the trial court
erred in convicting the accused-appellants of the complex crime of multiple murder and multiple
frustrated murder and asserts that the killing of Catalino Bellen, Arturo Abion and Teodoro Cas as
well as the shooting of Antonio Abion, Renato Abion, Jesus Loreta and Expedito Bonaobra are
distinct and several acts. Thus, accused-appellants committed three (3) crimes of murder, three (3)
crimes of frustrated murder and one (1) attempted murder in the case of Renato Abion.

We agree.

Dr. Cesar Ong Chua who treated the survivors of the massacre declared that the nature and
seriousness of the injuries sustained by Renato Abion would not have caused his death even without
the medical attention.  127

The concept of a complex crime is defined in Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code which states that
—
 Art. 48. Penalty for complex crimes — When a single act constitutes two or more
grave or less grave felonies or when an offense is a necessary means of committing
the other, the penalty for the most serious crime shall be imposed, the same to be
applied in its maximum period. (As amended by Act. No. 4000)

The cases at bench clearly do not fall under the any of the two instances of complex crimes. The
evidence on record, in fact, discloses the two (2) volleys were fired at the victims.   It can not be
128

said, therefore, that there was a single act of firing a firearm although it is not disputed that one high-
powered automatic rifle used in the crime. The recovery of two (2) slugs inside the fishing
boat   further confirms the fact that several shots were fired. In People v. Vargas, Jr.,   this Court
129 130

held that:

Evidently, this is a case where several persons were killed and others injured by
successive shots. In the case of People v. Mones,   the Supreme Court found the
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accused guilty of three distinct and separate murders, each qualified by treachery,
when said accused fired a series of shots killing three persons attending a school
commencement exercise. Similarly, in the case of People v. Desierto, C.A. 45 O.G.
4542, it was ruled that several shots from a Thompson sub-machinegun causing
several deaths, although caused by a single act of pressing the trigger, are
considered several acts. Although each burst of shot was caused by one special
mechanism the person firing it only has to keep pressing the trigger of the sub-
machinegun, with his finger and it would fire continually. Hence, it is not the act of
pressing the trigger which should be considered as producing several felonies, but
the number of bullets which actually produced them (L.B. Reyes, The Revised Penal
Code, pp. 559-560, Book I, 1971 Revised Ed.). . . Consequently, the accused should
be held responsible for each of the resultant crimes instead of the complex crime of
double murder under Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code.

At the time of the commission of the offenses in question, the penalty of murder under Article 248 of
the Revised Penal Code was Reclusion Temporal in its maximum period of death. No mitigating
circumstance was proven, and insofar as accused-appellant Galma Arcilla is concerned, the
aggravating circumstance of disguise shall have to be appreciated against him. Accordingly, the
medium period of the penalty prescribed by law made be imposed on accused-appellant Rustom
Bermas, while the maximum period thereof may be imposed on accused-appellant Galma Arcilla
pursuant to Article 64 of the Revised Penal Code. Therefore, for the killing of Catalino Bellen, Arturo
Abion and Teodoro Cas, the penalty of reclusion perpetua — the medium of the prescribed penalty
— shall be imposed on Rustom Bermas. The penalty of death would have been the proper penalty
of Galma Arcilla, but fortunately for him, Section 19(1) of Article III of the Constitution prohibited its
imposition. Hence, only reclusion perpetua may be imposed.

The penalty for frustrated murder was prision mayor maximum to reclusion temporal medium

pursuant to Article 50 of the Revised Penal Code, while the penalty for attempted murder
was prision correccional maximum to prision mayor medium per Article 51. The Indeterminate
Sentence Law applies to both the frustrated and attempted murder cases. Counting one degree
lower from the penalties prescribed by the Revised Penal Code for frustrated murder, the minimum
term for the indeterminate sentence shall be within the range of prision correccional in its maximum
period to prision mayor in its medium period which has a period ranging from four (4) years, two (2)
moths and one (1) day to ten (100 years   while for attempted murder, the minimum term under the
132

Indeterminate Sentence Law is arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its
medium period which ranges from four (4) moths and one (1) day to four (4) years and two (2)
months.  133

Considering the wide latitude of discretions given the courts to fix the minimum term of the
indeterminate sentence anywhere within the range provided by the law   vis-a-vis the peculiar facts
134

prevailing in the case at bench, the penalty for each frustrated murder is set at four (4) years, two (2)
months and one (1) day of prision correccional, as minimum, to twelve (12) years and one (1)
of reclusion temporal, as maximum; and for the attempted murder, four (4) moths and one (1) day
of prision correccional, as maximum.

We find the lower court's award of moral damages reasonable under the circumstances bearing in
mind that such damages, which include physical suffering and mental anguish, may be recovered in
criminal offenses resulting in physical injuries or the victim's death, as in this case.   We, likewise,
135

see no reason to disturb the trial court's award of damages for the loss of earning capacity by the
victims. The fact that the prosecution did not present documentary evidence to support the claim for
damages for loss of earning capacity of the victims does not preclude recovery of the said
damages.   The testimonies of the deceased's wives as well as the surviving victims themselves
136

sufficiently establishes the bases for making such award. The life expectancies of each deceased
victim was, however, not correctly computed as they were arbitrarily based on sixty (60) years. The
records shows that at the time of his death, Catalino Bellen was thirty (30) years old,   Teodoro Cas
137

was thirty-seven (37)   while Arturo Abion was forty-five (45).   In the absence of any clear showing
138 139

as to how much they were actually earnings, the trial court pegged their earning capacities at Fifty
Pesos (P50.00) a day which would amount to Eighteen Thousand per annum. Hence, in accordance
with the American Expectancy Table of Mortality adopted in several cases,   the loss of their
140

earnings capacities should be computed using the following formula:

gross less living

net earning capacity (x) = life expectancy x annual — expenses

income (50% of gross

annual income)

Catalino Bellen — x = 2(80-30) x [18,000.00-9,000.00]

= 33.33 x 9,000.00

= P299,970.00

Teodoro Cas — x = 2(80-37) x [18,000.00-9,000.00]

= 28.67 x 9,000.00

= P258,030.00

Arturo Abion — x = 2(80-45) x [18,000.00-9,000.00]

= 23.33 x 9,000.00

= P209,970.00

The awards made to the surviving victims namely, Expedito Bonaobra who was forty-two (42) years
old,   Antonio Abion, who was thirteen (13),   Jesus Lotera, twenty-four (24)   and Renato Abion,
141 142 143

eighteen (18),   are reasonable given the prevailing facts of the case and will not be disturbed.
144

However, the civil indemnity awarded for the death of the three victims should be increased to
P50,000.00 consistent with the controlling case law.  145

WHEREFORE, with the modification that —

1.] The civil indemnity awarded to the heirs of the victims be increased to P50,000.00
consistent with the current jurisprudence;

2.] The accused-appellant are hereby sentenced to suffer: (a) the penalty
of Reclusion Perpetua for each of the three (3) crimes of murder for the killing of
Catalino Bellen, Arturo Abion and Teodoro Cas; (b) Four (4) years, Two (2) Months
and One (1) Day of Prision Correccional, as minimum, to Twelve (12) Years and One
(1) day of Reclusion Temporal, as maximum, for each of the three (3) crimes of
frustrated murder for the shooting of Antonio Abion, Jesus Lotera and Expedito
Bonaobra; and (c) Four (4) months and One (1) day of Arresto Mayor, as minimum,
 to Six (6) years and One (1) day of Prision Mayor, as maximum, for attempted
murder for the shooting of Renato Abion;

3.] The award for loss of earning capacity of the three deceased victims be reduced
to (a) P299,970.00 for Catalino Bellen; (b) 258,030.00 for Teodoro Cas; and
P209,970.00 for Arturo Abion;

the challenged judgments are hereby AFFIRMED in all other respects.

SO ORDERED. 1âwphi1.nêt

Davide, Jr., C.J. Melo, Kapunan and Pardo, JJ., concur.